Fighting resumes in Sittwe as junta and Arakan Army exchange heavy artillery and drone strikes

Clashes erupted between Myanmar’s military junta and the Arakan Army (AA) in Sittwe Township, Arakan State, on the morning of September 4, breaking a month-long lull in the state capital’s vicinity with intense exchanges of artillery, drone strikes, and ground fire.

Military sources and residents reported that active fighting broke out along the border connecting Sittwe and Ponnagyun townships. Regime forces deployed heavy artillery, multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS), and combat drones, while AA forces retaliated with heavy artillery, drones, and small-arms fire.

“Tensions escalated after the junta launched provocative airstrikes yesterday,” a military source said. “Heavy artillery barrages this morning triggered mutual clashes, with both sides exchanging continuous fire throughout the day.”

The surge in ground fighting follows a series of junta air raids on the afternoon of September 3, which targeted seven villages across Ponnagyun, Sittwe, and Rathedaung townships.

The Sittwe front had been relatively quiet since late July before these latest strikes.

Residents in neighboring Ponnagyun Township reported hearing near-constant bombardments and small-arms fire from 5:00 AM to 10:00 AM on September 4.

“We started hearing heavy artillery, rocket launchers, and gunfire early in the morning,” said a Ponnagyun resident. “The clashes appear severe—the explosions were so intense that the ground shook in nearby villages.”

The escalation is part of a broader offensive by regime forces.

On September 3, junta warships shelled coastal areas in Gwa and Thandwe townships before launching coordinated air raids across Sittwe, Ponnagyun, and Rathedaung later that afternoon.

Following the intensified bombardments, the Arakan Army issued an emergency public advisory, urging civilians across Arakan State to take extreme precautions against ongoing naval shelling and airstrikes.

The AA has maintained a tight siege around Sittwe after capturing the surrounding townships of Werathani, Ponnagyun, and Rathedaung.

Although ground engagements directly inside Sittwe had temporarily lulled, AA forces have kept steady offensive pressure on regime positions through periodic artillery strikes and strategic encirclement.